THE MEXICAN ADVENTURE By Daniel Dawson Here at last is
a sober, carefully documented account of Napoleon III's unfortunate attempt to establish the Hapsburg Archduke Maximilian as Emperor of Mexico. : In writing The Mexican Adventure (Bell, 16s.), Mr. Dawson has avoided the excesses which so many amateur historians have com- mitted in their romantic enthusiasm for one ,or other of the protagonists. He is content to let the facts speak for them- selves, and every one of his facts is documented and indexed. In reading his book we have the feeling of being behind the scenes of a puppet show ; he shows us . the fingers of diplomacy jerking tortuous wires, sometimes with skill, but generally with complete disregard of any part but their own. When the wire-pullers realise that they have manoeuvred their hero-puppet into an impossible situation and abandon him perched precariously on his ill-made property- throne, we suddenly see the puppet conic to life. SU! fly, confusedly, but nobly, Maximilian attempts to play his role without assistance, while Carlotta begs the sponsors of the play to fulfil their obligations. But Napoleon's attention is turned towards his own Empire ; he can no longer afford to finance an unsuccessful venture ; the diplomats have other wires to pull. And so Maximilian is swept aside by the rebel Juarez, who, understandably enough, wants the Mexican stage to himself. Mr. Dawson, net allowing himself to be moved by the tragedy, has calmly recorded each move- ment in the piece as seen from behind the stage, and his book will reward the attention of the reader who likes to see how history is made.
Previous page
